2023 Kiawah Island Conservancy - Earth Day Birding

Semi-palmated Plover

The Kiawah Conservancy expands Earth Day to be all week long, and I attended an Earth Week photography class at The Ocean Course. The weather was very mild for April 22 and we started out looking at hundreds of shore birds loafing in a gulley. The shutter on the cameras were running hot, and the action only increased when multiple ospreys began fishing nearby in the ocean, with flocks of pelicans cruising up and down the surf line. Trip Leader John Kotz told us of his recent international travels in search of bird photos, and how he has been fortunate to reside on Kiawah for 30 years.

Snowy Egret - Notice the 'Golden Slippers'

Adam from the Kiawah Conservancy came to co-lead the beach walk, before leading a second event that toured the Ocean Park neighborhood. An active bald eagle nest was the main draw, but a yellow-throated warbler tried to steal the show. Wading birds aplenty were in clear view, and back at The Preserve pond a pair of black-necked stilts were hanging around an area they used for nesting in the recent past. Bobcat scat on the trail told us that predators are lurking and that nature still plays a key role on Kiawah Island.

Photographers hopeful for birding pics on the beach

To view past blog entries from Kiawah Island Click on 2019 Record Turtle Nests - 2018 2.0 Expansion Plan - 2017 Shorebird Symposium - 2012 PGA Championship - 2011 Sea Turtle Release with S.C. Aquarium

To view past Birding Field Trips from 2023 click on  Webb Wildlife Center - Whooping Crane Pond - Jarvis Creek Park - Caw Caw Bio Blitz -  Botany Bay WMA - Pinckney Island NWR - ACE Basin NWR Combahee Unit